Police pursuit ends with swim in river

Man allegedly stole delivery car, sped through seat belt check.

Man allegedly stole delivery car, sped through seat belt check.

June 02, 2007|TOM MOOR Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- A man who reportedly stole a pizza delivery man's car, sped through a seat belt check and rammed a police car was arrested shortly after he tried to swim across the St. Joseph River. Several agencies responded to the pursuit that unfolded just before 7:30 p.m. Friday when a man, not wearing his seat belt, refused to stop at a Click It or Ticket enforcement zone at Darden and Hollyhock roads, according to police. The suspect, 28, of South Bend, pulled into a driveway down the street and briefly exited the car after officers yelled for him to stop. However, the man jumped back in the tan Mercury Grand Marquis and backed into a St. Joseph County squad car and another parked car, police said. The suspect reportedly drove south on Juniper Road and then west on Cleveland Road. He crashed the car up against a fence on Cleveland, just east of Riverside Drive. "He was driving around erratically and crossing the center line," St. Joseph County police spokeswoman Jaimee Thirion said at the scene. The suspect ran through some woods near the Izaak Walton League grounds and jumped in the river near the Cleveland Road bridge to avoid being arrested, Thirion said. He made it halfway across the river when a Clay Fire Territory rescue boat approached him, prompting the man to swim back to the east side of the shore, where police and K-9 dogs were waiting for him. The suspect, who lost his shirt during the chase, was taken to the St. Joseph County jail and arrested on numerous charges. Police believe alcohol played a factor. No injuries were reported. It is unclear when the man stole the car from the Papa John's at 1827 South Bend Avenue. The delivery man was at the scene surveying the damage to his car before leaving with a South Bend officer. "We think (the delivery man) was getting pizzas to bring back to his car when it was stolen," Thirion said. It's the second straight week a man's refusal to stop at a seat belt check has led to a police pursuit. A man blew through an enforcement zone at Indiana 23 and Ironwood Drive May 24. He was arrested when he crashed at Jefferson Boulevard and Ironwood. Staff writer Tom Moor: tmoor@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6187